'The Fighter' movie: Mark Wahlberg as boxer Micky Ward. 'The Fighter' movie review: 'Smart' filmmaking from a business standpoint David O. Russell's The Fighter is a smart film; smart in the way it's constructed and executed as a means to appeal to a wide audience. People tend to like sports movies. They also tend to like movies where the good guys win and where the hardships the characters go through can all get tidily worked out by the time the credits start rolling. The Fighter is smart from a business standpoint. That also means Scott Silver, Paul Tamasy, and Eric Johnson's screenplay is predictable and much too “safe” as well. Russell and the screenwriters don't tread any new territory; in fact, they don't even try. On the positive side, The Fighter offers several solid performances that make up for some of what's lacking elsewhere. 'The Fighter'...
- 1/4/2016
- by Nathan Donarum
- Alt Film Guide
The Fighter (15)
(David O Russell, 2010, Us) Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Melissa Leo, Mickey O'Keefe. 116 mins
Just when America needed a tale of blue-collar dreams, hard-up families coming together and a Hero with Heart, along comes this bracing boxing drama. What distinguishes it from Rocky and co is that it's based on a real boxer ("Irish" Micky Ward), and there's not much boxing in it. The emphasis is on Wahlberg's colourfully unhelpful family, particularly his formidable mother (Leo) and crack-addicted brother (Bale). There's so much big acting going on, our quiet contender can't compete, but hey, he's got Heart.
Rabbit Hole (12A)
(John Cameron Mitchell, 2010, Us) Nicole Kidman, Aaron Eckhart, Dianne Wiest. 91 mins
A couple's marriage reaches breaking point after their son's death in an everyday trauma-drama that's carefully handled. Nothing too depressing, hysterical, boring or serious, but it's still emotional, and Kidman has never been better.
Brighton Rock (15)
(Rowan Joffe,...
(David O Russell, 2010, Us) Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Melissa Leo, Mickey O'Keefe. 116 mins
Just when America needed a tale of blue-collar dreams, hard-up families coming together and a Hero with Heart, along comes this bracing boxing drama. What distinguishes it from Rocky and co is that it's based on a real boxer ("Irish" Micky Ward), and there's not much boxing in it. The emphasis is on Wahlberg's colourfully unhelpful family, particularly his formidable mother (Leo) and crack-addicted brother (Bale). There's so much big acting going on, our quiet contender can't compete, but hey, he's got Heart.
Rabbit Hole (12A)
(John Cameron Mitchell, 2010, Us) Nicole Kidman, Aaron Eckhart, Dianne Wiest. 91 mins
A couple's marriage reaches breaking point after their son's death in an everyday trauma-drama that's carefully handled. Nothing too depressing, hysterical, boring or serious, but it's still emotional, and Kidman has never been better.
Brighton Rock (15)
(Rowan Joffe,...
- 2/5/2011
- by The guide
- The Guardian - Film News
Natalie Portman shouts out her 'Black Swan' director for bringing her and her fiancé together, while Christian Bale gets emotional.
By Mawuse Ziegbe
Jesse Eisenberg, Armie Hammer and Andrew Garfield at the Critics' Choice Movie Awards
Photo: Jason Merritt/ Getty Images
Before the folks behind the 2011 Critics' Choice Movie Awards on VH1 dished out their choices for the best flicks of 2010, they chose to spoof them first.
The guys of "Jackass" kicked off the festivities Friday night (January 14) with their own kooky rendition of the dream drama "Inception," pretending to plant the idea in Steve-o's head to bungee-jump in a portable toilet and get splashed with other people's poo. While the guys' twist on hit flicks like "The Social Network" — which went on to win Best Picture — and "Black Swan" peppered the show, the rest of the evening was pretty clean, as movies like "The Fighter" and "Inception" racked up trophies.
By Mawuse Ziegbe
Jesse Eisenberg, Armie Hammer and Andrew Garfield at the Critics' Choice Movie Awards
Photo: Jason Merritt/ Getty Images
Before the folks behind the 2011 Critics' Choice Movie Awards on VH1 dished out their choices for the best flicks of 2010, they chose to spoof them first.
The guys of "Jackass" kicked off the festivities Friday night (January 14) with their own kooky rendition of the dream drama "Inception," pretending to plant the idea in Steve-o's head to bungee-jump in a portable toilet and get splashed with other people's poo. While the guys' twist on hit flicks like "The Social Network" — which went on to win Best Picture — and "Black Swan" peppered the show, the rest of the evening was pretty clean, as movies like "The Fighter" and "Inception" racked up trophies.
- 1/15/2011
- MTV Movie News
Natalie Portman shouts out her 'Black Swan' director for bringing her and her fiancé together, while Christian Bale gets emotional.
By Mawuse Ziegbe
Jesse Eisenberg, Armie Hammer and Andrew Garfield at the Critics' Choice Movie Awards
Photo: Jason Merritt/ Getty Images
Before the folks behind the 2011 Critics' Choice Movie Awards on VH1 dished out their choices for the best flicks of 2010, they chose to spoof them first.
The guys of "Jackass" kicked off the festivities Friday night (January 14) with their own kooky rendition of the dream drama "Inception," pretending to plant the idea in Steve-o's head to bungee-jump in a portable toilet and get splashed with other people's poo. While the guys' twist on hit flicks like "The Social Network" — which went on to win Best Picture — and "Black Swan" peppered the show, the rest of the evening was pretty clean, as movies like "The Fighter" and "Inception" racked up trophies.
By Mawuse Ziegbe
Jesse Eisenberg, Armie Hammer and Andrew Garfield at the Critics' Choice Movie Awards
Photo: Jason Merritt/ Getty Images
Before the folks behind the 2011 Critics' Choice Movie Awards on VH1 dished out their choices for the best flicks of 2010, they chose to spoof them first.
The guys of "Jackass" kicked off the festivities Friday night (January 14) with their own kooky rendition of the dream drama "Inception," pretending to plant the idea in Steve-o's head to bungee-jump in a portable toilet and get splashed with other people's poo. While the guys' twist on hit flicks like "The Social Network" — which went on to win Best Picture — and "Black Swan" peppered the show, the rest of the evening was pretty clean, as movies like "The Fighter" and "Inception" racked up trophies.
- 1/15/2011
- MTV Music News
Welcome to Back Stage's exclusive guide to this year's Screen Actors Guild Award nominees in film and television. Here, you will find a write-up of every nominee for SAG Awards in 2011. Be sure to look for continued coverage of the awards race at our awards blog, "Behind the Scenes," at BackStage.com/bts.The 17th annual SAG Awards will be broadcast live Sunday, January 30, on TNT and TBS.Outstanding Performance By A Cast In A Motion Picture "Black Swan"A horror film set in the world of ballet? That's what Darren Aronofsky has accomplished with "Black Swan," his follow-up to 2008's "The Wrestler." For this film that has been in the works for 10 years, the director was inspired to collaborate with Natalie Portman after seeing her in 1994's "The Professional." But the ballet world wasn't exactly forthcoming for Aronofsky, who did his legwork in researching the demands that professional ballet...
- 1/12/2011
- backstage.com
David O Russell takes on the story of boxer Micky Ward, and comes up with one of the best films of the year. Here's our review of The Fighter...
'Irish' Micky Ward was one of the hardest men in the boxing game during his time in the squared circle. He never backed down from a fight, and what he lacked in speed, quickness, and defense he made up for with an ability to take punishment, a drive to win, and a liver-quivering left hook to the body.
This unique concoction of drive and gluttony for punishment comes, no doubt, from his family life, which is equal parts colorful and hard-luck. This tale, of a man's ability to transcend family problems and rise to great heights in his chosen profession is the centerpiece of David O Russell's star-studded new sports drama, The Fighter.
It's not a new story, by any means.
'Irish' Micky Ward was one of the hardest men in the boxing game during his time in the squared circle. He never backed down from a fight, and what he lacked in speed, quickness, and defense he made up for with an ability to take punishment, a drive to win, and a liver-quivering left hook to the body.
This unique concoction of drive and gluttony for punishment comes, no doubt, from his family life, which is equal parts colorful and hard-luck. This tale, of a man's ability to transcend family problems and rise to great heights in his chosen profession is the centerpiece of David O Russell's star-studded new sports drama, The Fighter.
It's not a new story, by any means.
- 12/20/2010
- Den of Geek
In the afterglow of the SAG nominations, when publicists, stars and pundits are all aglow with congratulatory messaging of every sort and critics are bemoaning the fate of talented but snubbed performances, one annual dismaying group of snubs always slips through the cracks. I'm talking about the people who contributed to the movies nominated as Best Ensemble but weren't actually included when the nomination was awarded. The nominated ensemble casts of The Fighter, The King's Speech, Black Swan, The Social Network and The Kids Are All Right do not, in all cases, fully represent the acting achievements within the film.
The following actors were not nominated in "ensemble"
Black Swan ~ This nomination includes all those demented raven-haired beauties: Natalie Portman, Barbara Hershey, Mila Kunis, Winona Ryder and the man fucking with their pretty heads: Vincent Cassell. Noticeably absent: Benjamin Millepied, the principle male dancer should have also been listed. While...
The following actors were not nominated in "ensemble"
Black Swan ~ This nomination includes all those demented raven-haired beauties: Natalie Portman, Barbara Hershey, Mila Kunis, Winona Ryder and the man fucking with their pretty heads: Vincent Cassell. Noticeably absent: Benjamin Millepied, the principle male dancer should have also been listed. While...
- 12/16/2010
- by NATHANIEL R
- FilmExperience
Filed under: Reviews, New Releases, Cinematical
Everyone loves a comeback story, especially in Oscar season, and that of the American boxer, a working class guy with busted knuckles and bruised cheekbones, is a classic. What makes David O. Russell's 'The Fighter' stand out -- or at least stand shoulder to shoulder -- with other boxing movies is its real-life subject, "Irish" Micky Ward, and its incredibly strong cast, led by Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Melissa Leo and Amy Adams.
'The Fighter' is set in the '90s before Ward went pro; a boxer from the working class Boston suburb of Lowell, Ma, Micky (Wahlberg) spends years being pummeled in the amateurs while being trained by his half brother, Dicky Eklund, and managed by their chain-smoking mother, Alice. Dicky (Bale) and Alice (Leo) can't let go of Dicky's former glory as a boxer who knocked out Sugar Ray Leonard,...
Everyone loves a comeback story, especially in Oscar season, and that of the American boxer, a working class guy with busted knuckles and bruised cheekbones, is a classic. What makes David O. Russell's 'The Fighter' stand out -- or at least stand shoulder to shoulder -- with other boxing movies is its real-life subject, "Irish" Micky Ward, and its incredibly strong cast, led by Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Melissa Leo and Amy Adams.
'The Fighter' is set in the '90s before Ward went pro; a boxer from the working class Boston suburb of Lowell, Ma, Micky (Wahlberg) spends years being pummeled in the amateurs while being trained by his half brother, Dicky Eklund, and managed by their chain-smoking mother, Alice. Dicky (Bale) and Alice (Leo) can't let go of Dicky's former glory as a boxer who knocked out Sugar Ray Leonard,...
- 12/10/2010
- by Jenni Miller
- Moviefone
Filed under: Reviews, New Releases, Cinematical
Everyone loves a comeback story, especially in Oscar season, and that of the American boxer, a working class guy with busted knuckles and bruised cheekbones, is a classic. What makes David O. Russell's 'The Fighter' stand out -- or at least stand shoulder to shoulder -- with other boxing movies is its real-life subject, "Irish" Micky Ward, and its incredibly strong cast, led by Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Melissa Leo and Amy Adams.
'The Fighter' is set in the '90s before Ward went pro; a boxer from the working class Boston suburb of Lowell, Ma, Micky (Wahlberg) spends years being pummeled in the amateurs while being trained by his half brother, Dicky Eklund, and managed by their chain-smoking mother, Alice. Dicky (Bale) and Alice (Leo) can't let go of Dicky's former glory as a boxer who knocked out Sugar Ray Leonard,...
Everyone loves a comeback story, especially in Oscar season, and that of the American boxer, a working class guy with busted knuckles and bruised cheekbones, is a classic. What makes David O. Russell's 'The Fighter' stand out -- or at least stand shoulder to shoulder -- with other boxing movies is its real-life subject, "Irish" Micky Ward, and its incredibly strong cast, led by Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Melissa Leo and Amy Adams.
'The Fighter' is set in the '90s before Ward went pro; a boxer from the working class Boston suburb of Lowell, Ma, Micky (Wahlberg) spends years being pummeled in the amateurs while being trained by his half brother, Dicky Eklund, and managed by their chain-smoking mother, Alice. Dicky (Bale) and Alice (Leo) can't let go of Dicky's former glory as a boxer who knocked out Sugar Ray Leonard,...
- 12/10/2010
- by Jenni Miller
- Cinematical
David O. Russell's The Fighter is based on the true story of Micky Ward, a stepping-stone boxer, and his older brother Dick Eklund, whose claim to fame was dropping Sugar Ray Leonard several years and many crackpipe hits long ago. Because it's beholden to the framework of Ward's technical boxing style and the fights he fought, the story has a tendency to lag and meander. But what elevates it to championship status is the acting, because it's kind of ecstatically horrifying to watch Christian Bale and Melissa Leo tear themselves and everyone else apart. Ultimately, the family dynamic and the bitter squabble of this destructive family is what makes The Fighter worth watching.
A documentary crew is filming Dick Eklund (Christian Bale) for his supposed comeback. Meanwhile, he's training his kid half-brother Micky Ward (Mark Wahlberg), a slugger with a fierce hook who most promoters book to boost their more promising fighters.
A documentary crew is filming Dick Eklund (Christian Bale) for his supposed comeback. Meanwhile, he's training his kid half-brother Micky Ward (Mark Wahlberg), a slugger with a fierce hook who most promoters book to boost their more promising fighters.
- 12/8/2010
- by Brian Prisco
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